Parents Boycott ‘Peter Rabbit’ Movie Over Food Allergy Scene

“Peter Rabbit” has found itself in the middle of a food allergy controversy that has prompted some parents to boycott the animated children’s film and Sony Pictures to issue an apology.

The uproar began with a bundle of blackberries.

One scene shows the rabbit Peter and his forest friends attacking their archnemesis, Mr. McGregor, by throwing blackberries at him. Mr. McGregor is allergic to blackberries and starts choking, having to inject himself with an epinephrine injector.

Now, due to that scene, parents of children with life-threatening allergies are condemning the movie and expressing their concerns on Twitter with the hashtag #boycottpeterrabbit.

“For them to mock something so serious is irresponsible and dangerous,” said Dr. Purvi Parikh, an allergist and immunologist at NYU Langone Medical Center and an allergist with the nonprofit Allergy & Asthma Network.

Parikh added that there have been real-life cases in which school bullies have used food allergies to threaten and harm other children.

“This is very dangerous and anxiety-provoking, as deaths occur when food allergies are not taken seriously,” she said.

Sony Pictures and the filmmakers of “Peter Rabbit” have released a statement in response.

“Food allergies are a serious issue. Our film should not have made light of Peter Rabbit’s arch nemesis, Mr. McGregor, being allergic to blackberries, even in a cartoonish, slapstick way. We sincerely regret not being more aware and sensitive to this issue, and we truly apologize,” the statement said.

In a Facebook post on Friday, the foundation issued a “warning” to parents about the blackberries scene: “Parents should be aware of this before your children see the movie so you can talk with your child(ren) about it.”

The letter went on to encourage Sony to examine its portrayal of bullying in films geared toward children and to refrain from mocking food allergies in the future.

“We would welcome the opportunity to educate your company and the cast of the movie about the realities of food allergy so that they and your viewing audience can better understand and recognize the gravity of the disease. We would like to work together to promote positive attitudes and safe environments for those with disabilities such as food allergies,” the letter said.

Also on Saturday, the Australian-based allergy and anaphylaxis charity group Globalaai launched a Change.org petition demanding an apology from Sony Pictures for depicting “allergy bullying” in the Peter Rabbit movie.

All families should be aware of how serious and potentially life-threatening food allergies can be, Parikh said.

“Precautions should be taken around people who suffer from food allergies, as it can cost them their life,” she said.

“Emergency medications such as epinephrine should always be carried, and currently, a mainstay of treatment is avoidance of the food,” she said. “It is important we fight the stigma around food allergies and not alienate or endanger those who are at risk.”

16 comments

mark

Noneyo

So because your child almost dies from an allergic reaction the whole world needs to stop. My son almost died from an allergic reaction to medication does that mean he deserves a certificate no, should everyone else stop taking that med to make my kid happy no. It’s life some people have allergies some people have disabilities get over it. Get over yourself your child is no better or more important than any other. Helicopter parent much. Hope you at least stop wiping your kids butt before college.

mark

Noneyo

Mark it’s called life. Get over yourself. A damn movie wow. If you are offended by a movie maybe your mommy should stop wiping your ass lol. My kids don’t get offended by every little thing. You put your kid on pedestal like he’s god. Wait till he or she whatever gets in the real world and realizes they aren’t the center of it anymore. It’s a food allergy it’s not like they showed a pedophile molesting kids. I know food allergies are deadly but so is cancer and people make movies about that like it’s no big deal. My kid is allergic to meds he could die. Am I going to stop movies from showing people popping medications no not my problem. Am I going to teach my kids right from wrong yes. People get murdered everyday does that mean we can’t watch horror movies anymore either. The world won’t stop because your kid has an allergy.

III%

Hayl

“We would like to work together to promote positive attitudes and safe environments for those with disabilities such as food allergies,” I would like to point out that a FOOD ALLERGY is not a DISABILITY. The definitions of food allergy and disability are very different…. Food allergy is an immune system reaction that occurs soon after eating a certain food. Even a tiny amount of the allergy-causing food can trigger signs and symptoms such as digestive problems, hives or swollen airways…. Disability a physical or mental condition that limits a person’s movements, senses, or activities. synonyms: handicap, disablement, incapacity, impairment, infirmity, defect, abnormality so therefore to call a food allergy a disability is wrong

mark

Noneyo

Smart parents teach children right from wrong. I bet those parents thay are complaining watches a lot of Looney tunes back in the day and had the common sense not to reenact the violent scenes. Common sense goes a long way. Let’s all get offended by a cartoon. My 7 year old son is severely allergic to medications but I’m not going to have a meltdown over someone else making a joke over meds.

Roflmao

Can’t make this stuff up

‘Dr. Purvi.’ Good thing he’s not a pediatrician. Nice way for him to get exposure though. Just once instead of an apology catering to these goofballs I would like a company to say: ‘Piss-off, we thought it was funny’.